Mee lends 42 assists to Bentley opening win

Bentley University junior setter Kelly Mee, a Council Rock High School South alum from Ivyland, amassed 42 assists, four aces, four kills and eight digs as the Falcons rallied for a season-opening 3-2 win over St. Mary’s University (Texas) Friday afternoon, Sept. 4 at the Hilton Garden Inn-vitational at Dowling College.
Making her collegiate debut, Bentley freshman Amy Waitkus added 18 kills, 10 digs and five aces. Senior Alex Kearney hit .412 with 15 kills and senior libero Cassie Kraft led the Falcons in digs with 13. Senior Kristine Mickelson helped out with five blocks.
Bentley took the opening set, 25-23, but dropped the next two (25-22, 26-24) to fall behind the Rattlers. The Falcons stormed back for a 25-18 victory in the fourth set and dominated the fifth and deciding set, 15-6.
Waitkus, an outside hitter, had at least three kills in each set, and finished the match with four in six attempts in the finale. Kearney, with her 15 kills, moved to within 16 of reaching the 1,200 plateau for her career.
Luisa Rodriguez and Kirsten Chapman led St. Mary’s with 12 kills apiece. The Rattlers dropped to 1-5, but have played a tough early schedule, including a pair of nationally-ranked opponents.
Bentley hit .281 in the opening match of the season, and amassed a dozen service aces.
The tournament continued Saturday with Bentley falling 3-1 to both Lock Haven and the host team Dowling. Bentley will host its own Invitational this Saturday and Sunday, with matches against Rollins College, Bloomfield College and Georgian Court College. Due to renovations at the Dana Center, the tourney will take place at UMass-Lowell.
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Compiled by Sports Editor Steve Sherman.